John W. Brown, former president, CEO, and chairman of Stryker Corporation, is widely regarded as one of the most effective long-tenured CEOs in modern medtech. Taking the helm of the family-run company in 1977, when sales were around $17–23 million, he led Stryker through a landmark IPO, a series of strategic acquisitions, and relentless product expansion, growing revenues into the multi-billion-dollar range and turning it into a global medical technology powerhouse. Under Brown’s three decades of leadership, Stryker evolved from a niche hospital-bed manufacturer into a diversified leader in orthopedics, surgical equipment, and neurotechnology, setting a benchmark for disciplined, long-horizon value creation.  

John Bicket, co-founder and CTO of Samsara, turned a PhD-level tech project at MIT into a multibillion-dollar industrial Internet-of-Things company. After earlier selling his first startup, Meraki, to Cisco for $1.2 billion, Bicket teamed up with Sanjit Biswas in 2015 to build Samsara—fusing sensors, AI, and cloud software to monitor fleets, equipment, and field operations across thousands of enterprises. With stakes valued at around $3 billion each post-IPO, Bicket reflects the rare path from academic research to top-tier tech billionaire, while steering product strategy, engineering culture, and long-term innovation at the heart of the connected-operations era.

John Arnold, former hedge fund trader and cofounder of Arnold Ventures, built one of the most successful careers in energy trading before devoting his wealth to large-scale philanthropy. After rising quickly at Enron’s trading desk, he launched Centaurus Energy in 2002 and became known for prescient bets on natural gas markets that produced billions in profits, earning a reputation as one of the most skilled traders of his generation. Retiring from finance in his 30s, Arnold shifted his focus to philanthropic work through Arnold Ventures, targeting data-driven policy reform in criminal justice, healthcare, education, and public finance. His rare trajectory from billionaire trader to systems-change philanthropist has made him a uniquely influential figure in both markets and public policy.

John A. Sobrato, founder of the Sobrato Organization, is one of Silicon Valley’s most influential real estate developers, building a multibillion-dollar portfolio that houses many of the world’s leading technology companies. After selling one of the Bay Area’s earliest tech office parks in the 1970s, he expanded aggressively into commercial and multifamily properties across the region, creating a dominant privately held enterprise now managed alongside the second generation. A dedicated philanthropist, Sobrato has devoted much of his wealth to education, housing, and community development, with the family pledging to give away the majority of its net worth, solidifying his impact on both the business and social fabric of Northern California.

Joel Greenberg, cofounder of Susquehanna International Group (SIG), is one of the most influential and discreet figures in quantitative trading and options market making. Launching SIG in 1987 with a small group of poker-playing colleagues, Greenberg helped pioneer a probabilistic, game-theory-driven approach to trading that became the firm’s hallmark and propelled it into a global powerhouse across equities, options, fixed income, private equity, and venture capital. Known for his analytical rigor and long-term investment vision, he also helped lead major early bets such as SIG’s stake in ByteDance. Greenberg remains a defining, though intentionally low-profile, architect of the modern quantitative finance ecosystem.

Joe Shoen, longtime chairman and CEO of AMERCO, the parent company of U-Haul, has spent decades shaping one of America’s most iconic consumer and logistics brands. Taking the helm in 1986 after a highly publicized family dispute, Shoen streamlined operations, expanded the truck and trailer fleet, and strengthened U-Haul’s nationwide network of rental centers, storage facilities, and retail locations. Under his leadership, the company grew into the dominant force in do-it-yourself moving and storage, serving millions of customers each year. Known for his frugal discipline, operational focus, and deep understanding of middle-class America, Shoen remains one of the most enduring and influential leaders in the transportation and self-storage industries.

Joe Ricketts, billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist, is the founder of TD Ameritrade, the online brokerage he launched in 1975 and grew into one of America’s largest trading platforms through early adoption of discount brokerage, digital tools, and retail investor empowerment. After taking the company public and expanding it through major acquisitions, Ricketts became a prominent figure in finance and later sold TD Ameritrade to Charles Schwab in a landmark multibillion-dollar deal. Beyond business, he has invested heavily in journalism, conservation, and civic initiatives through the Ricketts family foundation, and the family also owns the Chicago Cubs. Ricketts remains a defining voice in entrepreneurship, public policy, and philanthropy.

Joe Kiani, founder, chairman, and CEO of Masimo, is a pioneering medical-technology entrepreneur whose innovations in noninvasive monitoring have transformed modern patient care. Since launching Masimo in 1989, he has built the company into a global leader in pulse oximetry and hospital automation, driven by breakthrough signal-processing technology that set new clinical standards worldwide. Kiani has also become a prominent advocate for patient safety and healthcare transparency, founding the Patient Safety Movement Foundation to reduce preventable hospital deaths. With a blend of engineering vision, mission-driven leadership, and bold industry advocacy, he remains one of the most influential figures in medical technology.

Joe Gebbia, cofounder of Airbnb, helped transform a simple idea—renting air mattresses in a San Francisco apartment—into one of the world’s most influential travel and hospitality platforms. As the company’s design visionary, he shaped Airbnb’s user experience, trust systems, and brand identity, guiding its growth from a scrappy startup to a multibillion-dollar public company operating in more than 190 countries. Beyond Airbnb, Gebbia founded Samara, a design lab focused on housing innovation, and became a major philanthropist supporting refugees, homelessness initiatives, and global social causes. His blend of creativity, product instinct, and mission-driven leadership has made him a defining figure in modern tech.

Jimmy Rane, founder and CEO of Great Southern Wood Preserving, built the YellaWood brand into one of America’s largest and most recognizable producers of pressure-treated lumber. Starting the business in 1970 with a small operation in rural Alabama, Rane expanded it into a multibillion-dollar enterprise supplying building materials across the United States and beyond. Known for his marketing savvy—especially YellaWood’s iconic advertising—he is also widely recognized as “the Yella Fella,” a persona that helped cement the brand’s place in American home-building culture. Beyond business, Rane is a major philanthropist and a leading supporter of education and community development in the Southeast.

Jimmy John Liautaud, founder of the Jimmy John’s sandwich empire, turned a small college-town deli he opened in 1983 with borrowed money into one of America’s largest and most recognizable fast-casual chains. Known for its simple menu, freaky-fast delivery model, and intense franchise discipline, Jimmy John’s expanded to thousands of locations nationwide before selling a majority stake to private equity giant Roark Capital. Liautaud, who stepped down as chairman after the sale, is also an active philanthropist and investor, channeling his entrepreneurial drive into charitable initiatives and new business ventures.

Jim McKelvey, cofounder of Square (now Block), is an entrepreneur, inventor, and investor whose work has reshaped modern payments and small-business commerce. A glassblower by training, McKelvey partnered with Jack Dorsey in 2009 to create Square’s iconic card reader after losing a sale because he couldn’t accept credit cards—sparking a multibillion-dollar fintech revolution. Beyond Square, he founded LaunchCode to expand access to technology careers and authored The Innovation Stack, distilling insights from building category-defining companies. Known for his product intuition, creative background, and commitment to economic empowerment, McKelvey remains a major force in American entrepreneurship.

Jim Haslam, founder of Pilot Company, built one of America’s largest fuel, travel center, and logistics businesses from a single gas station he opened in 1958. A former University of Tennessee football standout and U.S. Army officer, Haslam expanded Pilot through disciplined operations, strategic acquisitions, and a relentless focus on serving professional drivers—laying the foundation for what would become a multibillion-dollar national network of travel centers. His leadership shaped the culture and growth of the Haslam family enterprise, while his extensive philanthropy in education, healthcare, and community initiatives established him as one of Tennessee’s most respected civic and business leaders.

Jerry Yang, cofounder of Yahoo!, is one of the earliest architects of the modern internet, helping transform a Stanford hobby project into one of the first global web portals and a defining tech company of the 1990s. After stepping down from Yahoo!, Yang went on to establish AME Cloud Ventures, becoming a major early-stage investor in data-driven startups and emerging technologies. Known for his long-term vision, deep technical roots, and influential role in bridging Silicon Valley with Asian markets, Yang remains a respected entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist shaping the next generation of innovation.

Jerry Speyer, cofounder and chairman of Tishman Speyer, is one of the most influential real estate developers of the modern era, shaping skylines across New York, major U.S. cities, and global financial hubs. Since launching the firm in 1978 with his father-in-law, Robert Tishman, Speyer has overseen iconic projects such as Rockefeller Center, the MetLife Building, and Frankfurt’s MesseTurm, while expanding the company’s portfolio to more than 200 million square feet of office, residential, and mixed-use assets worldwide. Known for his disciplined investment approach, civic leadership, and long-term urban vision, Speyer remains a defining figure in institutional real estate.

Jerry Reinsdorf, longtime owner of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox, is one of the most influential figures in American professional sports. After building his wealth in real estate and tax-shelter investments, he purchased the White Sox in 1981 and the Bulls in 1985—guiding the teams through eras that cemented their place in sports history. Under his stewardship, the Bulls won six NBA championships in the Michael Jordan era, while the White Sox captured a World Series title in 2005, ending an 88-year drought. Known for his sharp business acumen, loyalty to his organizations, and major impact on league governance, Reinsdorf remains a defining and sometimes controversial presence in modern sports ownership.

Jerry Moyes, founder of Swift Transportation, built one of the largest trucking and logistics companies in North America from a small regional operation he inherited in the 1960s. Through bold acquisitions, disciplined cost management, and a relentless focus on fleet expansion, he grew Swift into a national powerhouse serving major retailers, manufacturers, and supply-chain networks across the U.S. and Mexico. After taking Swift public and later merging it with Knight Transportation, Moyes helped create Knight-Swift, the largest full-truckload carrier in the country. Known for his entrepreneurial tenacity and deep industry expertise, he remains a defining figure in American transportation.

Jeremy Jacobs, longtime chairman of Delaware North, has built the family-owned company into one of the world’s largest hospitality and food-service enterprises, operating in airports, national parks, sports venues, and entertainment destinations across four continents. Under his leadership, Delaware North expanded from a regional concession business into a multibillion-dollar global powerhouse. Jacobs is also widely known as owner of the NHL’s Boston Bruins since 1975, guiding the franchise to multiple Stanley Cup appearances and a championship in 2011. Renowned for his operational discipline, longevity, and influence in both hospitality and professional sports, he remains one of America’s most prominent private-sector executives.

Jeffrey Talpins, founder, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Element Capital Management, is a leading architect of the “modern macro” hedge fund era. Launching Element in 2005 after distinguished fixed-income roles at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, Talpins built the firm into a multi-billion-dollar platform famed for its disciplined, systematic global-macro strategies and strong historical performance. Under his leadership, Element returned 21 % annualized since inception and at one point managed over $18 billion in assets. Talpins also channels his success into high-impact philanthropy, including conservation, education, and peace initiatives through the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation.

Hussain Sajwani, founder and chairman of DAMAC Properties, is one of the Middle East’s most prominent real estate developers, known for transforming Dubai’s skyline with luxury residences, branded towers, and large-scale master-planned communities. Starting as a catering entrepreneur serving energy companies across the Gulf, Sajwani shifted into property development in the early 2000s, building DAMAC into a multibillion-dollar enterprise recognized for partnerships with global brands such as Versace, Fendi, Cavalli, and Paramount Hotels. With projects spanning the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, London, and beyond, Sajwani has become a defining figure in luxury real estate and one of the region’s most influential business leaders.